Controversial Opera Staging

CONTROVERSIAL OPERA STAGING

More and more opera enthusiasts are complaining vehemently about “modern” opera staging.
Opera directors transport the action to different places and times, and rewrite the story.
They also use very explicit visuals including violence and nudity.

But if you think controversial opera performances are something new and in our time only – then look at this.

The premiere of Wagner’s Tannhäuser in Paris 1861 was a debacle.

In 2019 Tobias Kratzer’s Tannhäuser Bayreuth 2019 was a clown in a travelling troupe (with dwarf).

In Munich 2017 (Romeo Castelucci) there were so many naked breasts that YouTube even censored the trailer by Bayerische Staatsoper

Bizet’s Carmen was received very negatively at the premiere in Paris 1875.

But what did modern directors do to this very straightforward story?
In 2018 in Florence Leo Muscato rewrote the ending of the opera: Carmen shoots Don José. The audience did not like it all and booed.

In Paris and Rouen 2019 Carmen was moved to a circus where she is a circus artist.

 

But the price goes to Dmitri Tcherniakov Aix 2017 who moved Carmen to a psychiatric clinic where Don Jose receives treatment by reenacting the Carmen story as a play. This staging was actually lauded by critics.

Richard Strauss’ Salome was scandalous when premiered (1905).No wonder with the kissing of the head!
A lot has been said about nudity in the Dance of the Seven Veils, pioneered by Maria Ewing (London), Karita Mattila (Met) and many who followed. Surprisingly directors did not rape Salome much. I guess the story is shocking enough.
The modernized performances were mostly true to the plot. Here is a trailer for the Nikolaus Lehnhoff staging from Baden-Baden 2011

By now you will have realized that perception and appreciation of opera performance can change with time. Maybe in 50 years some of todays controversial stagings will be liked too !?

One of the best examples how opinion can change is the Bayreuth Boulez/Chereau Der Ring des Nibelungen.
The premiere in 1976 was a huge scandal. But today this Ring is considered a classic and a legend!

 

It was followed by many very controversial Ring stagings all over the world.
The Valencia Ring staged by La Fura dels Baus 2008

The Stuttgart Ring 2000 by four different directors

 

But the first price goes to Frank Castorf notorious Ring in Bayreuth 2016
setting Rheingold in the ‘Golden Motel’ on Route 66 in Texas!

 

I am always surprised how directors can invent these crazy ideas and
get them staged too.
What about La Boheme on a space station? How can somebody imagine this?
Claus Guth did just that in Paris 2017

 

I am sure you have never seen a “Vissi d’arte” like this.
Tosca staged by Martin Kušej at the Theater an der Wien 2022

 

And what about a psychedelic Turandot with computer generated graphis?
This staging by Fabio Cherstich was so “successful” in 2020 that it moved from Palermo to Bologna and Kassel

Norma staged by Christophe Coppens at La Monnaie, Brussels  2021
is an apocalyptic night mare with cars crashing and burning.

If you think Operetta might be immune to director’s assault – WRONG!
The Fledermaus in Salzburg 2001 staged by Hans Neuenfels was a veritable scandal.

Quote
Comment by RKM
This is the worst recorded production of anything ever
Orlofsky is straight out of Beetlejuice, but also grunts, spasms and snorts cocaine. The action stops for long, highly dramatic recitations about corpses and rape, plus one composed entirely of nonsense syllables. There is simulated sex and incest, including women licking and riding a 3-foot-long model of an anteater’s snout. Most of the women wear only underwear at the party, and main characters are made to don cloth cylinders about 4 feet in diameter. The absolute worst, except for the singing and musicianship. Honest, though — the DVD captures many boos at intermission.

One spectator even sued the festival to get his money back (he lost).

 

It seems that some directors are repeat offenders. Virtually all their stagings are offensive, and controversial to say the least.

But still they are hired over and over again by various opera houses!

One of the most infamous is Calixto Bieito. Most of his staging have very shocking elements (mostly out of context)
His Parsifal from Stuttgart 2018 is legend.

 

The previously mentioned Romeo Castellucci is in the same class
His Parsifal Brussels 2011 premieres the most shocking nudity in opera ever!

Personally I am not in principle against updating and modernizing opera staging,
but it has to be done with care and observing the intentions of the composer/librettist and the spirit of the work.
I have seen such stagings and enjoyed them.
Here just one example:
Rienzi Deutsche Oper Berlin 2010 staged by Philipp Stölzl

This could be subject of a different blog: “Enjoyable modern opera staging”

 

 

 

(Visited 15,351 times, 9 visits today)

Comment (8)

  1. I am not necessarily against modern staging of opera, but I also do not walk the costuming or set to be a distraction from the music or the performance. If I come away from the opera and speak only of the costumes or the set, and not the complete synthesis of it all, then there was a problem. If the set, costuming, or lack thereof (in the Brussels case), is distracting, then it is difficult to focus on the performance.
    I seriously wonder how the outrageous productions were ever allowed in the first place. The Ring from a Texas Roadside was ridiculous. The Tannhauser where everyone NOT singing was completely nude, why?
    Again, if it helps to tell the story of the opera, fine. But if it does not do that, scrap it.

  2. A lot of examples are Wagner operas. Does Wagner get the most of crazy staging, or is the author of this article focussed on Wagner, so has the most information on his operas ?

    Right now, I am doing a deep dive on Bellini, so let me add some items to your list 😀 :

    La Sonnambula – looks like Amina is having her period
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rj-nD6cx9rw

    La Sonnambula – a sexual harrassment in a corporation. A comparatively mild among scandalous stagings, I admit.
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n7XNHGf1GDg

    I Capuleti e i Montecchi – an LSD trip, I presume ?
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pOU0hELe6O0

  3. So, apparently, Amina in my previous comment is miscarrying, not having her period. That would make sense and would actually add to the existing drama. I have made one guy on facebook angry by my comment, so I am correcting myself before he finds me here.

  4. I would mention Frank Aleu’s Turandot from Barcelona 2019. It was a strange set also, although I liked it. (Is not available anymore from arte.tv)
    And what about Stefano Poda’s Turandot in Torino, 2018?

  5. Go t o any Amazon site and check the DVD/BDs prices for any popular opera title. The productions that tell the story are selling at near original list prices., even years ;ater. The Regie productions that are 6 months old are frequently selling for up to 75% off list price. You might think that the “house” would take this into consideration.

  6. delle opere italiane il Rigoletto è strapazzato dai registi quasi quanto a suo tempo dalla censura… Ma anche con la Tosca ce n’è di tutti i colori! Con la Boheme e la Butterfly l’approccio è stato più moderato, magari nella maggior parte limitato all’updating di scene e costumi, ma poi hanno preso sempre più spazio le “libertà” con la trama; non una novità ad ogni modo, già negli anni Ottanta Ken Russell…

  7. I just saw that wretched Fledermaus and was appalled. Update the opera to the 1950s or even the 2020s, but there is no need to add all that gratuitous nastiness. The opera does a fine job of poking fun at the bourgeoisie already. I had to skip ahead, and each time I did, I saw something unpleasant.

    However, the Tannhauser with the crazy lady and the dwarf wasn’t half bad, and even the Castorf Ring made some kind of sense. Just saw the Bieito Tannhauser and really liked how he switched the focus from Our Hero to the two people whose lives he ruins–Elisabeth and Wolfram. I admit to liking the Met’s Lucia in the barrio, too. I’m not a total stick-in-the-mud.

Post A Comment For The Creator: Flamand

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *